Measuring game apparatus

ABSTRACT

An educational game having a playing board with a circular path divided into equal radial segments between a start area and a finish area. A plurality of indicator cards having various lengths of measuring indicia are positionable on the board adjacent the path for measuring a distance along the path. The distance is recorded by placing a token in one of the segments. A selector operated by the player is used to indicate one of the cards.

United States Patent [50] Field of Search [72] Inventor Walter E.Sylvester 915 Avenue C West, Bismarck, N. Dak. 58501 [21 Appl. No797,432

[22] Filed Feb. 7, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 20, 197] [54] MEASURING GAMEAPPARATUS 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 273/134, 273/l4l [5i] Int. Cl A63f 3/02 273/ I34 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,330 1/1924 Treboul PrimaryExaminerDelbert B. Lowe Attorney-Burd, Braddock & Bartz ABSTRACT: Aneducational game having a playing board with a circular path dividedinto equal radial segments between a start area and a finish area. Aplurality of indicator cards having various lengths of measuring indiciaare positionable on the board adjacent the path for measuring a distancealong the path. The distance is recorded by placing a token in one ofthe segments. A selector operated by the player is used to indicate oneof the cards.

Patented April 20, 1971 2 sheets-shee't 1 FIG. I

INVEN'I'OR. WALTER E. SYLVESTER ATTORNEYS Patented April 20, 19713,575,417

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'IOR. WA LTER E.SYLVESTER B ewafi/mddock wag ATTORNEYS MEAsruntnc GAME ArrAnArtJs BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Educationalgames utilizing a playing board having an elongated path have been usedin combination with playing pieces and question cards to advance theplaying pieces along the path. US. Pat. No. 1,635,734 shows this type ofgame with question cards wherein the correct answers to questions on thecards determine the number of spaces that the token is moved. In otherwords games, indicators, as dice, are used to determine the number ofstations that a player shall move his token along a separate path havingconsecutively numbered stations. An example of this game is shown in US.Pat. No. 1,707,323.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention relates to a competitive educationalgame which utilizes a playing board having a path connecting a startingarea with a finish area. A plurality of measuring means are used tomeasure various distances along the path. A token or similar movablemember is used to record the measured distance on the path. A selectorcoordinated with the plurality of measuring means is operable by theplayer to indicate which of the measuring means, shall be, used tomeasure the distance along the path. The measuring means indicatedistances both in a forward direction and in a rearward direction.

An object of the invention is to provide a competitive game primarilyfor preschool children which is simple enough so that they can play itwithout adult supervision. Another object of the invention is to providea game which can be played without the ability to count while at thesame time providing a means whereby the player can learn to count andrecognize the appearances of numbers. A further object of the inventionis to provide a game wherein the player is taught distance perception inboth a forward direction and a rearward direction.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a game board of the inventionshowing the elongated path connecting START with FINISH;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the spinner;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one indicator card with numbers progressing ina forward direction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an indicator card similar to FIG. 3 showing thenumbers progressing in a backward direction;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second shaped indicator card showing numbersprogressing in a forward direction;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an indicator card similar to FIG. 5 showing thenumbers progressing in a backward direction;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a third form of an indicator card havingnumbers progressing in a forward direction; and

FIG. ll is a plan view of an indicator card similar to FIGv 7 havingnumbers progressing in a backward direction.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 an educational gameindicated generally at 10 comprising a generally flat board 11 havingprinted thereon an elongated track or path 12 commencing at a start areaor location 13 and terminating at a finish or end area 14. A pictorialrepresentation 16 of a home is located on the board adjacent the startarea. A pictorial representation 17 of a school is located on the boardadjacent the finish area 14. The elongated path 12 has concentriccircular lines extending from the start area or START 13 to the finisharea or FINISH 14. The space between the lines is divided into a seriesof consecutively arranged radial segments 18. Each segment 18 is anindividual station or space along the path 12. The segments 18 subdividethe entire path into equal area spaces or stations from the start area13 to the finish area 14.

Board 11 is flat and made of substantially rigid material, as paper,cardboard, plastic, sheet metal and the like. Various bright designs andfigures may be printed on the board in the spaces not occupied by thepath. As an example, the board 11 may have an overall rectangular shape.Printed on one side of the board is the path 12 having a circularconfiguration. The inside line of the circle has a radius of 7 5% inchesand the width of the path is 2 inches. The segments 18 are formed by 4spaced radial lines so that all the segments have an equalcircumferential width. Other dimensions and configurations of the pathcompatible with the method of playing the game can be used.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, there areshown indicator or measuring cardsindicated generally at 21 to 26 and used as separate measuring meanspositionable on the board adjacent the path for measuring distancesalong the path. A first indicator card 21 has an arcuate outer edge 29which coincides with the curvature of the inside curved line of thepath. The peripheral portion of the card adjacent the edge 29 is dividedinto an equal number of radial spaces 31 which are consecutivelynumerically numbered between a beginning arrow mark 32 and an end arrowmark 33. Each mark has a different color and an arrowhead terminating atthe arcuate edge 29. A directional arrow 34 pointing in a forwarddirection connects the marks 32 and 33. Eight spaces separate thebeginning arrow mark 32 and end arrow mark 33.

Indicator card 22 has an identical shape as the card 21, including anarcuate edge 36. The peripheral portion of the card adjacent the edge 36is subdivided into a number of circumferential spaces 37. The spaces arenumerically numbered between a beginning arrow mark 38 and an end arrowmark 39. A directional arrow 40 extended in a backward or rearwarddirection connects the beginning mark with the end mark 39. Five spacesseparate the beginning mark 38 and end mark 39. In both indicator cards21 and 22, the spaces 31 and 37 have a width equal to the width of thesegments 18 of the path so that the numbers on the cards also indicate anumber of spaces on the path. Cards 21 and 22 are indicated as beingyellow in color.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show pie-shaped second indicator cards 23 and 24 formeasuring a distance along the path 12. These cards are blue todistinguish them from cards 21 and 22. Card 23 has an outer arcuate edge41 similar to edge 29 of card 21. The peripheral portion of the cardadjacent edge 41 is subdivided into a number of circumferential spaces.A selected number of spaces carry numbers located between a beginningarrow mark 43 and an end arrow mark 44. A directional arrow 45 connectsthe beginning mark 43 with the end mark 44. Card 24 has a similararcuate edge 46 and a peripheral portion divided into circumferentialspaces 47. The spaces 47 between a beginning arrow mark 48 and an endarrow mark 49 are consecutively numbered. A rearward directional arrow51 connects the beginning mark 48 with the end mark 49.

Third shaped indicator cards 25 and 26, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, alsocarry indicia to indicate a distance along the path. The cards are red.Card 25 has an outer arcuate edge 52 located adjacent a circumferentialportion which is circumferentially divided into spaces 53. A pluralityof spaces are numbered between a beginning arrow mark 54 and an endarrow mark 55. A forward directional arrow 56 connects the marks 54 and55. Card 26 has an arcuate edge 57 forming the outer edge of an arcuateportion or band divided into a number of circumferential spaces 58. Thefirst space on the right side of the card is identified with a beginningarrow mark 59. Circumferentially spaced from the beginning mark is anend arrow mark 60. The spaces between the beginning mark and the forwardborder line of the end mark space are identified with consecutivenumbers 1 and 2. The marks are connected with a rearward directionalarrow 61.

All of the indicator cards have arcuate outer edges which havecurvatures which coincide with the curvature of the inside edge of thepath 12. This outer edge forms the outside lines of peripheral arcuateportions of the cards which are circumferentially divided into a numberof spaces. The width of each space is equal to the width of the space 18of the path 12. The spaces are consecutively numbered from either theright side or the left side. The indicator cards 2126 are generally flatmembers made of substantially rigid material, as wood, metal, cardboard,paper and the like. The lines, arrow marks and numbers are printed ononly one face of each card. The opposite face of the card does notprovide measuring information.

In a preferred embodiment of the game, the indicator cards 21, 23 and 25are forward cards in that the directional arrows are located in aforward or clockwise direction. The measurement indicated by these cardsmay be in amounts of one, three, five, seven, eight, nine or spaces. Theindicator cards 22, 24 and 26 are backward cards as the directionalarrows 40, 51 and 61 are pointed in a backward or counterclockwisedirection and extend in amounts of two, four or six spaces.

The measuring lengths indicated by the spaces on the several indicatorcards may vary, with some cards having the same numbered spaces. Also,the colors of the cards may be changed and the shapes of the cards maybe altered around the design of the arcuate outer edge which iscorrelated with the shape of a portion of the path 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the selector operable to indicateone of the measuring or indicator cards used to measure a distance alongthe path 12. The selector indicated generally at 62 is a spinnercomprising a circular disc 63 divided into three 120 sectors 64, 65 and66. Positioned over the disc 63 is a rotatable spinner needle or pointer67 having a point 68. A pivot member 69, as a rivet or grommet,rotatably connects the spinner needle to the center of the disc 63.Located in sectors 64, 65 and 66 are outlines 71, 72 and 73 whichcorrespond to the shapes and colors of the indicator cards 21, 23 and25, respectively. The card outlines and colors on the disc 63 providethe players with visual association between selector 62 and theindicator cards 2126. The corresponding colors are indicated on theselector so that the player can use either the shape outline or thecolor code to determine the selected indicator card. In this manner,both color recognition and object shape recognition are used by theplayer to transmit the color and shape information determined by theselector 62 to the correspondingly color and shaped indicator card.

In use, initially indicator cards 21 and 22 are intermixed and placedface down in a first pile. The indicator cards 23 and 24 are placed in asecond pile and the indicator cards 25 and 26 are placed in a thirdpile. While the number of cards in each pile may be varied, thepreferred number is 7 forwardly directed cards and three rearwardlydirected cards. There are a total of ten cards in each pile.

The players can take turns in spinning the pointer 67 on the selector62. To determine the first move, all of the players spin the pointer 67.The player that ends on the red begins. If two or more players selectred, there is a playoff until only one has the red. The first playerspins the pointer 67 and takes an indicating card corresponding to thecolor or shape determined by the location of point 68. As shown inbroken lines in FIG. 2, pointer 67 has selected a yellow card. If thepointer stops on a line, another turn is taken by the player. Theindicator card 21 selected by the pointer is lined up with its outsideedge 29 in alignment with the inside line of the path 12 on the playingboard. The beginning mark 32 is lined up with the START position and theplayer's token 74 is moved in the direction of the arrow 34 to the space18A opposite the indicating cards end mark 33. Token 74 is moved ninespaces forward in the path 12 as directed by the measuring indicia oncard 21.

On the next move of the same player, the pointer 67, shown in full linesin FIG. 2, has stopped on segment 65 indicating from station 18A tostation 188.

If the indicator card selected had a reverse or backward direction, thetoken would be moved backward the indicated number of spaces. Eachplayer has a token. All the players of the game take successive turnsmoving their tokens forward or backward as their selected measuringcards indicate. The first player that reaches FINISH 14 first is thewinner.

After each indicator card is used, it is placed on the bottom of itsrespective pile. If a player selects an indicator card that has abackward measurement on his first try, the token is not moved. Theplayer's turn is lost. The players token may not be reversed past thebeginning area or START 13.

The size and dimensions of the game as well as the shape of the pathwill be determined by how large a unit is desired. Magnetic tokens canbe used with a metal board. The tokens can be shaped to represent smallcars, bikes, doll buggies, ships, planes or other units oftransportation.

lclaim:

1. A game apparatus comprising: a playing board having a start area, afinish area and a continuous path connecting the start area with thefinish area, a plurality of distancemeasuring means, each measuringmeans having means to indicate a distance, at least one of saidmeasuring means indicating a distance different from the indicateddistance on the remainder of the measuring means, each measuring meanspositionable on the board for measuring a distance along the path, atleast one token, and selector means operable to indicate by chance oneof the measuring means, said one measuring means usable to measure adistance along the path which is marked by placing the token in thepath.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 including: lines separating the pathinto stations, said means on the measuring means corresponding to thelines separating the path, whereby the measuring means is used toindicate a number of stations in the path.

3. The game apparatus of claim 2 wherein the path is circular and saidlines separate the path into arcuate segments.

4. The game apparatus of claim 3 including numbers on the measuringmeans to indicate the measured number of arcuate segments in the path.

5. The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein each measuring means has anarcuate edge corresponding to the curvature of the circular path andsaid means on said measuring means are radial lines defining arcuatesegments along said edge corresponding in size to the arcuate segmentsof the path.

6. The game apparatus of claim 5 including a beginning mark and an endmark on the measuring means, the segments between the marks beingconsecutively numbered.

7. The game of apparatus of claim 5 including a beginning mark and anend mark on spaced segments and a directional arrow connecting themarks.

8. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein the directional arrow points ina clockwise direction when the measuring means is correctly positionedadjacent the path.

9. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein the directional arrow points ina counterclockwise direction when the measuring means is correctlypositioned adjacent the path.

10. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein part of the measuring meanshave means designating movement a forward distance along the path andthe other part of the measuring means have means designating movement abackward distance along the path.

1. A game apparatus comprising: a playing board having a start area, afinish area and a continuous path connecting the start area with thefinish area, a plurality of distance-measuring means, each measuringmeans having means to indicate a distance, at least one of saidmeasuring means indicating a distance different from the indicateddistance on the remainder of the measuring means, each measuring meanspositionable on the board for measuring a distance along the path, atleast one token, and selector means operable to indicate by chance oneof the measuring means, said one measuring means usable to measure adistance along the path which is marked by placing the token in thepath.
 2. The game apparatus of claim 1 including: lines separating thepath into stations, said means on the measuring means corresponding tothe lines separating the path, whereby the measuring means is used toindicate a number of stations in the path.
 3. The game apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein the path is circular and said lines separate the pathinto arcuate segments.
 4. The game apparatus of claim 3 includingnumbers on the measuring means to indicate the measured number ofarcuate segments in the path.
 5. The game apparatus of claim 3 whereineach measuring means has an arcuate edge corresponding to the curvatureof the circular path and said means on said measuring means are radiallines defining arcuate segments along said edge corresponding in size tothe arcuate segments of the path.
 6. The game apparatus of claim 5including a beginning mark and an end mark on the measuring means, thesegments between the marks being consecutively numbered.
 7. The game ofapparatus of claim 5 including a beginning mark and an end mark onspaced segments and a directional arrow connecting the marks.
 8. Thegame apparatus of claim 7 wherein the directional arrow points in aclockwise direction when the measuRing means is correctly positionedadjacent the path.
 9. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein thedirectional arrow points in a counterclockwise direction when themeasuring means is correctly positioned adjacent the path.
 10. The gameapparatus of claim 1 wherein part of the measuring means have meansdesignating movement a forward distance along the path and the otherpart of the measuring means have means designating movement a backwarddistance along the path.